Land’s End Trial
MX-5s going off-road and Hillmans on punishing inclines? Cornwall had it all at this event
This long-distance event, now on its 96th outing, might have started out as a motorcycle event but it was clear from this year’s strong turnout that the punishing terrain of the North Cornwall coastline is as popular as ever with classic car owners.
A total of 300 competitors took part in the two-day event, facing a challenging variety of sections across minor roads and demanding hill climbs towards the finish throughout the timed event. Contrary to the event’s name the course didn’t finish at Land’s End, with entrants on two and four wheels alike heading towards Newquay instead.
The tougher aspects of this year’s route included Hoskin Hill, where many of the the classics taking part struggled to pull away from the start line on the challenging gradient.
Those who made it up the steep, muddy climb produced a fantastic chorus of rev-limiting, carb-fed engines roaring through the woods. The event’s traditional Blue Hills climb also proved to be one of the busiest with spectators, as participants’ abilities were tested to limits navigating two tests within one run.
Classics taking part included Ford Escorts, MGB GTs and Triumph TRs – including a V8engined TR7 entered by the TR Register – while the unlikely sight of a Mazda MX-5 MkI crunching its way through the off-road stages was a hit with those watching.
The Land’s End event is one of three classic reliability trials staged by event organisers The Motor Cycling Club – the next one is the Edinburgh Trial, although you’ll have to wait until 6 October for that.